Pollen as a supplemental or alternative nutritional resource for Typhlodromus transvaalensis Nesbitt (Acari: Phytoseiidae), a predatory mite targeting physic nut pests
Abstract
The reproductive potential of generalist phytoseiid mites is greater when they are fed on pollen. Here, we assessed the biological, reproductive and population parameters of the phytoseiid mite (Typhlodromus transvaalensis) fed with three food sources (pollen): corn (Zea mays), physic nut (Jatropha curcas) and castor bean (Ricinus communis). This phytoseiid mite was able to develop, survive and reproduce with Z. mays, J. curcas and R. communis pollen, standing out in all the parameters when fed with R. communis pollen, followed by Z. mays pollen, showing adequate oviposition, post-oviposition, longevity and survival periods. In contrast, J. curcas pollen was unfavourable for T. transvaalensis, causing a delay in its biological cycle of 2.3 times. Reproductive and population parameters of T. transvaalensis were proportional to the application frequency of R. communis pollen, with best results at the 24-hour frequency. These results suggest that T. transvaalensis can successfully use pollen from several plants as an alternative and/or complementary food at various application frequencies.
Related
- Functional response, numerical response, mutual interference and switching behavior of the predatory mite Euseius scutalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)
- Framing, Analysis, Interpretation and Two Supplemental Tests for Exploring Serial Mediation Theories with Cross-Sectional Data
- Pharmacokinetics of Supplemental Omega-3 Fatty Acids Esterified in Monoglycerides, Ethyl Esters, or Triglycerides in Adults in a Randomized Crossover Trial
- Supplemental water modulates pollinator visitation on resource-rich plant species
- Characterization of the Aromatic Profile of Mature-Green Tomato Fruit (‘Fen Junmei’) in Response to Supplemental LED Light Quality and Intensity During Ripening
BibTeX
@article{monterocedeno2026pollen,
title = {{Pollen as a supplemental or alternative nutritional resource for Typhlodromus transvaalensis Nesbitt (Acari: Phytoseiidae), a predatory mite targeting physic nut pests}},
author = {Silvia Lorena Montero-Cedeño and Ernesto Gonzalo Cañarte-Bermúdez and Renato Almeida Sarmento},
journal = {Acarologia},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.24349/1gsz-kba8},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05775223v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Pollen as a supplemental or alternative nutritional resource for Typhlodromus transvaalensis Nesbitt (Acari: Phytoseiidae), a predatory mite targeting physic nut pests
AU - Silvia Lorena Montero-Cedeño
AU - Ernesto Gonzalo Cañarte-Bermúdez
AU - Renato Almeida Sarmento
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/23
JO - Acarologia
DO - 10.24349/1gsz-kba8
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05775223v1
AB - The reproductive potential of generalist phytoseiid mites is greater when they are fed on pollen. Here, we assessed the biological, reproductive and population parameters of the phytoseiid mite (Typhlodromus transvaalensis) fed with three food sources (pollen): corn (Zea mays), physic nut (Jatropha curcas) and castor bean (Ricinus communis). This phytoseiid mite was able to develop, survive and reproduce with Z. mays, J. curcas and R. communis pollen, standing out in all the parameters when fed with R. communis pollen, followed by Z. mays pollen, showing adequate oviposition, post-oviposition, longevity and survival periods. In contrast, J. curcas pollen was unfavourable for T. transvaalensis, causing a delay in its biological cycle of 2.3 times. Reproductive and population parameters of T. transvaalensis were proportional to the application frequency of R. communis pollen, with best results at the 24-hour frequency. These results suggest that T. transvaalensis can successfully use pollen from several plants as an alternative and/or complementary food at various application frequencies.
SN - 0044-586X
SN - 2107-7207
ER -